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Make an Arduino Robot

For Arduino Makers Who Want to Learn the Hard (But Right) Way

This Arduino project course is designed as an opportunity for you to get deep into the messy details of understanding, designing, and constructing a simple yet infinitely extensible wheeled robot. From figuring out what the robot is supposed to do, to selecting the right parts, configuring them, assembling and testing them, all the way to producing a refined outcome, this project emphasizes the iterative process of problem-solving.

Access 57 lectures & 8 hours of content 24/7

Create an Arduino wheeled robot that can navigate towards a light source & avoid obstacles along the way

Peter Dalmaris is Chief Explorer at Tech Explorations. He is fascinated by technology because of its ability to make amazing things happen, and science because of its ability to make nature transparent. He is an Electrical and Computer Engineer, has a PhD (most of which was spent reading philosophy of knowledge) and a couple of Masters in Information Systems. He has been a lecturer for over 13 years in a variety of IT (and occasionally management) subjects. During this time, he has developed a hands-on teaching style, whereby he invites and challenges his students to learn by doing. He has taught thousands of students in dozens of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Peter is also a software developer at Futureshock Enterprises, making applications using Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and iOS. Peter has been an electronics enthusiast since he remembers himself when he wrecked his sister's digital watch and his parents VCR. He replaced the watch but managed to fix the VCR. Now, he is particularly fascinated by the rapid prototyping opportunities that the Arduino and similar platforms has brought about. He lives in Sydney, Australia.

Details & Requirements

Length of time users can access this course: lifetime

Access options: web streaming, mobile streaming

Certification of completion not included

Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase

Experience level required: all levels

Compatibility

Internet required

Course Outline

Introduction

What is this course about? (5:16)

Course guide (7:34)

How to get the most out of this course (3:46)

Tools you will need (5:42)

Parts you will need (13:34)

Specifications - what will the robot do (8:10)

The micro controller and sensors

Introduction (1:06)

The microcontroller (5:46)

Single photo sensor (7:08)

Dual photo sensors (15:44)

Light conditions and robot actions (8:06)

Implementing the light seeking sketch (16:41)

Implementing the light seeking sketch testing (6:09)

The ultrasonic sensor (4:27)

The ultrasonic sensor sketch and demo (12:23)

The motors

Introduction (1:00)

Continuous rotation servos assembly (10:07)

Continuous rotation servos sketch and demo (6:53)

Mini servo motor (10:02)

Finding a clear path with the distance sensor and the mini servo Part 1 (6:08)

Find a clear path with the distance sensor and the mini servo Part 2 (8:58)

Arduino Robotics with the mBot

An Introduction to Robotics with the World's Friendliest Learning Robot

This course will introduce you to the mBot, the world's friendliest educational robotics platform. The mBot is an Arduino-based, two-wheel robot that comes with built-in sensors and actuators, and that you can program using the graphical programming language, Scratch. You'll learn how to assemble the mBot, discuss the additional hardware options, and discover how to program it on your tablet or computer.

Access 39 lectures & 5 hours of content 24/7

Assemble an mBot

Program the mBot to follow an arbitrary black line on the floor

Combine robot's sensors & actuators efficiently

Peter Dalmaris is Chief Explorer at Tech Explorations. He is fascinated by technology because of its ability to make amazing things happen, and science because of its ability to make nature transparent. He is an Electrical and Computer Engineer, has a PhD (most of which was spent reading philosophy of knowledge) and a couple of Masters in Information Systems. He has been a lecturer for over 13 years in a variety of IT (and occasionally management) subjects. During this time, he has developed a hands-on teaching style, whereby he invites and challenges his students to learn by doing. He has taught thousands of students in dozens of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Peter is also a software developer at Futureshock Enterprises, making applications using Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and iOS. Peter has been an electronics enthusiast since he remembers himself when he wrecked his sister's digital watch and his parents VCR. He replaced the watch but managed to fix the VCR. Now, he is particularly fascinated by the rapid prototyping opportunities that the Arduino and similar platforms has brought about. He lives in Sydney, Australia.

Details & Requirements

Length of time users can access this course: lifetime

Access options: web streaming, mobile streaming

Certification of completion not included

Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase

Experience level required: all levels

mBot robot

Windows or Mac computer

Compatibility

Internet required

Course Outline

About this course

What is this course about? (3:36)

Hardware and software that you will need (2:32)

Study guide (4:19)

Meet the mBot

Introduction (0:40)

Parts in the box (8:24)

Assembly: Chassis, motors, wheels, sensors (16:07)

Assembly: mCore tour, Bluetooth module (6:15)

Assembly: Wiring, batteries, controller (10:25)

Assembly: testing (3:48)

Additional hardware (10:30)

Software options (4:02)

End of section quiz

Programming the mBot using a tablet

Introduction (0:55)

Demonstration of MakeBlock (18:43)

Demonstration of mBlockly (11:09)

Demonstration of mBlock (6:52)

End of section quiz

Programming the mBot on the PC using mBlock

Introduction (0:44)

Install mBlock on your computer (5:40)

A quick look at Scratch, the graphical programming language (12:40)

Create and upload your first program (14:53)

Motor control (10:19)

Moving left, right, backwards (15:45)

End of section quiz

Getting more out of the mBot: programming structures, more sensors

Introduction (0:27)

The Loop (9:06)

The distance/proximity sensor (12:19)

More experimentation with the distance sensor (6:51)

The "If" and "If...else" control structure (16:25)

Introducing the buzzer (2:09)

End of section quiz

Create the line follower program

Introduction (1:03)

Introducing the line sensor (14:21)

Adding the motors to the line follower program (11:04)

Stopping at the end of the line with the proximity sensor (7:21)

Implement a U-turn at the end of the line (7:37)

Using a button to start and stop (9:37)

Creating custom block (functions) (9:33)

End of section quiz

Other things you should know

Introduction (0:31)

Restoring the firmware (so that you can control the mbot from the iPad) (5:19)

Restoring the default program (so that you can control the mbot with the remote (3:25)

Advanced Arduino Boards and Tools

Discover Some of the Tools That the Pros Use & Learn About Their Powers

The Arduino Uno is exceptional, but eventually you will learn that it is not enough for more advanced projects. However, there are more powerful alternatives to Uno, and in this course you'll be introduced to some of the best currently available advanced Arduino boards. You'll discuss what is special about each one, how you can use them in your projects, and what to look out for when you migrate from the Arduino Uno.

Peter Dalmaris is Chief Explorer at Tech Explorations. He is fascinated by technology because of its ability to make amazing things happen, and science because of its ability to make nature transparent. He is an Electrical and Computer Engineer, has a PhD (most of which was spent reading philosophy of knowledge) and a couple of Masters in Information Systems. He has been a lecturer for over 13 years in a variety of IT (and occasionally management) subjects. During this time, he has developed a hands-on teaching style, whereby he invites and challenges his students to learn by doing. He has taught thousands of students in dozens of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Peter is also a software developer at Futureshock Enterprises, making applications using Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and iOS. Peter has been an electronics enthusiast since he remembers himself when he wrecked his sister's digital watch and his parents VCR. He replaced the watch but managed to fix the VCR. Now, he is particularly fascinated by the rapid prototyping opportunities that the Arduino and similar platforms has brought about. He lives in Sydney, Australia.